Statement by UN Resident Coordinator Antje Grawe at Forum on Reforms of Education System of the Kyrgyz Republic

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, H.E. Mr Japarov Akylbek

Minister of Education, Mr. Imanaliev Kanybek

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues,

It is an honor to be here today at this important event which discusses the very foundation of any society and of its socio-economic development: Education.

Let me start by commending the Government of Kyrgyzstan, on behalf of the United Nations, for the formulation of the country’s vision for education which we have just heard from the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The United Nations is committed to supporting the Government in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal # 4: Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education. However, as we all know, education systems have been seriously disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the world is currently facing an education crisis: a crisis of equity, a crisis of quality and a crisis of relevance.

This is why last year, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, convened the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in New York in September 2022, the first Summit of its kind on education at the level of Heads of States.

Kyrgyzstan took an active part in the preparations and in the Summit itself, and I’d like to acknowledge the national commitments made by the Government at the Summit to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. More specifically, the Government committed to the five following reform areas, which were also just mentioned, in different words, by His Excellency, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers:

1. Promoting inclusive, equitable and safe school environments at all levels;
2. Advancing digital transformation;
3. Increasing teachers’ competences and administrative capacities in schools;
4. Strengthening teachers’ professional development; and
5. Improving financial transparency and efficiency in the education system.

I would like to note that this commitment came after national consultations which included more than 100 government officials, donors and other stakeholders. Moreover, more than 1500 young people were consulted with support from UNICEF to ensure the views of those concerned are captured in the national education vision and the commitments. This policy dialogue served as an excellent opportunity to mobilize a broader group of stakeholders to define the national commitments and accelerate progress on education and the 2030 Agenda. 

I would like to commend the Ministry of Education and Science for following-up on the commitments made in New York including through the organization of the first Joint Sector Review in December 2022 which forms an excellent basis for the next steps in the education reforms.

To realize these national education commitments, I would like to stress the importance of one particular aspect, namely the need for a multi-dimensional approach to education. And this is for several reasons:

• For instance, we have seen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also of last year’s escalation of violence in Batken on children’s and adolescents’ mental health. It is increasingly recognized that it is vital to invest more resources in mental health in support of children and adolescents for them to grow to their full potential (which is related to SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Climate change and air pollution have emerged as an environmental challenge in Bishkek and other parts of the country, impacting the health of citizens including pupils. (This is associated to SDG7 (Renewable Energy) and SDG8 (Sustainable Economic Growth).
• Malnutrition impairs children’s ability to learn and grow.
• The same applies to digital illiteracy. 

However, these challenges can be turned into opportunities in the education system: This requires, among other, the strengthening of cross-sectoral synergies between education and health in order to promote positive mental health by building self-confidence and self-esteem of students or by teaching a healthy diet. Environmental education can be included in curriculas, we can champion youth-led climate actions, link STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) with green skills development, and promote extra-curricular activities and project-based learning on issues related to climate change and environment. Investments in digitalization will be equally important.

There are of course be many more areas to innovate and support cross-sectoral cooperation not only between State institutions, but also with academia, civil society, the private sector and other development partners many of whom are assembled here today.

The United Nations will not spare any effort to support Kyrgyzstan in implementing its education vision and in delivering on its commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit in such a cross-sectoral approach.

The Cabinet of Ministers, under the Chairman’s stewardship, has just approved our joint work plans for the next two years under the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the years 2023-2027, which provides our roadmap for collective delivery of results. The work plans are fully aligned with Kyrgyzstan’s development priorities, they were consulted with a wide range of stakeholders in society and they include the country’s international commitments such as those made at the Transforming Education Summit. Investing in youth and quality education remains a leitmotif for the UN’s work in Kyrgyzstan under the new Cooperation Framework involving numerous Agencies, Funds and Programmes, who pursue a multi-dimensional approach.

I am confident that our collaboration will lead to the successful implementation of the vision that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education and Science is presenting here today.

Thank you. Chon Rahmat.

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More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAyPNe